Soft Spring Morning

'Soft Spring Morning'
Zoë Bull

I love Spring and Autumnal sunrises in particular. In Autumn, the leaves glow a red and golden hue, but in the Spring, there is this softness, a delicate touch of nature that caresses the budding blossoms and a rainbow of pastel light, diffused by the clouds…just lovely. 

I noticed it as I came into the kitchen this morning to have my breakfast. I wasn't interested in watching the news, but just being quiet and frequently turning my head to look out the window every mouthful or so. I loved this view and I had always wanted to take the perfect picture on this window sill, with all the cute little ornaments standing in a line. I had bought the flowers yesterday and though they would normally be placed on the kitchen table, the window sill seemed like a nice change. The sun looked beautiful as it shined on the chrysanthemums and it just felt like Spring had really begun. 

I finished eating my breakfast and had a feeling inside that I just had to get my camera. The moment could pass by the time I went upstairs to fetch it, but I thought it was worth it. Angle and light were everything and I have just got a huge admiration for soft light photographs. It's something I've noticed around on Pinterest a lot and on the web generally, and I would love to get it perfected. 

I know time of day is a commitment when it comes to special kinds of natural lighting. We often find ourselves shooting at midday when we know the sun is out, but as photographers know, the harshest kind of light is during that period so I think if you want to create something special photographing in the morning and evening sounds like a plan. 

'Soft Crysanthemums'
Zoë Bull

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Regarding my knitting photography book project. I have create an additional blog for all my knitting going-ons and discussions on my project - A Journey of String. 

Using Photography To Create A Record of Your Creations

'Ladybird Mug Cosy'
Project 1
Zoë Bull 

It's really great to see a project being made. 

What we look for in life is immediate results. There were immediate results crowding my mind as I was  working on my project and then getting the 'perfect' picture created and then edited. What we really should be grateful of is the journey. The time spent in the studio, getting the lights right and experimenting, and learning how things work if they go wrong. We all just seem to want to rush and then when we have got there…it's on to a new adventure. 

I like to make records of things. I also like to make things, and when I make things, they get separated from other projects and put behind cupboard doors and in storage. I decided that with all the things that I am starting to knit,  that I didn't want them to be separated. Some knits may be gifts, some may get lost. However, it's a good thing I like capturing things through photographs, and it is a great way to record things. 

With this photo book project, I'm going to combine my two creative loves and encase all my knitting projects in a photographic print form that will make think, 'Wow! I made that! I took that too!''

And this was what I was talking about in my first post of this year, doing the things that you love to do. Better more, not only do I combine two of my creative interests, I get to enjoy writing about them too. 

'Ladybird Mug Cosy'
Project 1
Zoë Bull 

• Project 1 out of 30
• A personal project where I create 30 knits of my choice 
• Build up my product photography and still life skills 
• Get creative
• And do something I enjoy doing

Sources

Mug Cosy pattern from Cute & Easy Knitting - Fiona Gable 

 

Watches and Inanimate Objects Through Time

Watch (2009)
By Zoë Bull 

'Rainbow Watch'
Zoë Bull

I have always enjoyed still life. Before I had any people to photograph, inanimate objects were my sitters and it would often be a snap. As I have grown as a photographer, my snaps have turned into conscious decisions and experiments of position and now introducing lighting.

I wish I had known sooner that artificial lighting wasn't scary. I would only rely on natural light and would be sure that I could work something out to make my images look fantastic. It doesn't mean to say that some pictures don't look great, the sun can be a powerful tool. 'Frosty Leaf' from my last post was entirely natural light. It would look a bit strange if it was on a white background but then it is all about the purpose.

I am in the progress of creating a still life personal portfolio. I enjoy knitting and working in the studio with a photography table gives me a great opportunities to photograph my creations and collect them into a book one day.

The first project is almost at it's completion. I am very exciting and will be posting it on In My Depth of Field and my Flickr page so you can watch it's journey as it goes along.

For now, I have been doing some practice and quite interested in getting into product photography for catalogues and websites. None of the these products are for sale directly from me as I have found them round my house, but you will get the idea.

'Lego Desk-Tidy Man'
By Zoë Bull 

Artist's Wooden Man
By Zoë Bull 

Gispy Moth & Postcards And Suntan Cream
Books By Jean Bull
http://jeanbullswritingblog.blogspot.co.uk 
Zoë Bull 

Do What You Love To Do...

'Frosty Leaf'
Sony World Photography Awards Entry
Nature
Zoë Bull

Sometimes it is about going back to the roots to the things that interest you. With Photography we start off by photographing things that we find exciting and it's all just strictly personal. Then if you start a degree or doing work, you sort of forget the photography that was once a hobby, and I think they are two different areas. 

I took this image of Frosty Leaf just after Christmas in my garden. We say winter is so depressing and the worst time for photographers. However, if you look carefully there is beauty within winter and that is what I aim to express in this image. Inside, I felt amazing. I had felt this photographic euphoria for a long time because I had been taking pictures for projects at uni and draining my natural inspiration. 

It was great to wander round the garden with my wellies on, and the sun creating low gentle shadows and twinkling diamond droplets on the washing line. I also had the positing feeling of getting some exercise and oxygen into my body, it was fresh and invigorating. 

Like anything, it is great to get in touch with yourself on a personal level - just you and the hobby that you love. We need this to feel revitalised and it gets us away from being glued to our technology and actually achieving something with our lives. 

So go out and do something that you haven't really done for a while, or try something that you have always wanted to do. That's what I'm trying to do this year. I hope it's a good one. 

Happy New Year!

'Village Wanderer'
Sony World Photography Awards Entry
Travel
Zoë Bull

If you want to something exciting and different with your photography, why don't you send some of your favourite/best photos to an online photography competition. I featured these in the Sony World Photography Awards 2014 competition. It has now closed, but there are many out there for photographers at any level, not just for the professionals. Even if you don't win, you can still feel you have done something productive. You never know, you might be surprised.